Do we need a wake up call ?
On prioritising our health and well being with better habits and choices
As a 'holistic wellness coach', it has been an uphill task for me to draw awareness amongst clients, prospective clients and just about everyone else in general on the importance of prioritising practices such as daily movement, cultivating better eating habits, & incorporating stress management techniques into our daily lives in order to live feeling better.
In this post, I will bring to light the following:
A. What breaking old patterns, no matter how dysfunctional they are can do for us.
B. The unsupportive environment that we live in & the consequences thereof.
C. Ways to change our mindset & rise above these detrimental patterns we see around us.
Breaking old patterns - Is it even possible?
Just because you currently have habits that don't serve you (physically, mentally or emotionally) does not mean that you are doomed for life.
Some science to help you see light:
The cells in our bodies are constantly turning over. The cells are repairing themselves if damaged & also new cells are being created - every second, every day, & every year. We lose about 9 pounds per year of skin cells and there are 22 billion made per night, stomach cells are turning over every 2-9 days, lungs without damage around 8 days, RBC's last 3-4 months. And when we start to put all of this together, it means sometime next year, you will wake up with a 95% new body. Which means if we want that new body to be of optimal health, there is a lot we can do.
Every day, every month, every year we get an opportunity to promote new cell growth that is healthy and will have us living in better functioning bodies.
And one of the best things to do to promote overall cell health is to repeat healthy choices - move more, eat better, get adequate sleep & practice gratitude or emotionally uplifting practices.
A word about Epigenetics :
Epigenetics is a study of how our behavior and environment can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. While all cells in our bodies contain the same genes, the gene expression patterns are different. These patterns can change from life events, diet, exercise, stress and trauma. And the impact can be passed down through 2 subsequent generations. Take a moment to let that sink in.
The better habits you repeat in terms of your physical, mental & emotional health have the capacity to improve not just your health but those of subsequent generations as well. Isn't that awesome? And isn't that reason enough for you to start taking responsibility and creating better habits?
The Environment we live in:
We don't live in an environment that is very congenial for better health & well being. Just look around you. Some of the detrimental patterns that are starkly obvious are :
A. Not enough activity/movement
B. Increased consumption of fast food, ready to eat processed food and increased frequency of eating out
C. Eating more than what our bodies need
D. Eating to fill or as a routine act & not taking the time to build a good, healthy relationship with food
E. Overuse of gadgets and abuse of entertainment such as Netflix compromising on sleep, rest and real connection with family and friends
F. Looking at spending on self care, health & fitness and personal growth as an expense instead of an investment in self
G. Feeling judged for taking the time out for self - in exercise or other activities that enhance personal well being
H. Considering 'rest and relaxation' as waste of time & any other self care activity unnecessary
I. Excessive use of social media, looking to it for validation in the form of likes & followers instead of using it as a platform for self expression
Consequence of these patterns :
A general lack of awareness of how these dysfunctional habits are creating poor physical & mental health leaving us feeling dissatisfied and not great in our bodies & minds.
Ways to rise above these detrimental environmental patterns:
When I used to work in JWT, Bangalore, my Boss, Dennis Koshy, used to always tell me, "Purnima, learn to manage your environment." Somehow that advice has remained with me. And that's the one I will give you first. So :
A. Acknowledge the environment you live in, & learn to work with it :
We don't rise by just aping or falling into dysfunctional patterns that exist around us. We rise by choosing different.
B. Find support:
This can come in many ways. Some of these can be :
A community of like minded people:
If you can't find one create one.
Coach/ guide/ teacher who "walks the talk" and cares for you enough to guide you on the path to better health:
There are many who are walking this path, consciously making better choices each day. Some of us do it for a living. Our sole purpose is to "help people get stronger, healthier and live to their full potential". So don't disregard what you can learn through working with such a coach.
In the book Mastery, George Leonard talks about how to choose a teacher. I will share a few excerpts from the book that talks about finding the right teacher :
“The search for good instruction starts with a look at credentials and lineage.”
Make sure you check these. There are many quacks pretending to be experts, in today's world.
“To see the teacher clearly, look at the students. They are his work of art. If at all possible, attend an instructional session before choosing your teacher.”
Don't hesitate to ask the coach to give you a chance to interact with his/her students. And by all means take a trial class to gauge the coach for yourself.
So take your time to choose a suitable teacher that feels best for your journey and once you choose a teacher, take their guidance & remain supported.
C. Learn the clear distinction between "investment" & "expense":
What you spend on taking care of yourself be it towards getting fitter (money paid to the Gym or a fitness trainer), getting your diet looked into (money paid to a nutritionist), better mental health (money paid to a therapist), courses you take to move forward on your personal growth, are all "INVESTMENTS" for your better health and long term well being.
What you spend on clothes, eating out, buying stuff irrespective of whether you really need them or not are "EXPENSES". Watch your expenses and invest in what helps you grow. Consider yourself worthy enough to invest in.
D. Reexamine your beliefs:
Begin to value your life. It is precious. With better health (physical, mental, emotional), you can function better and be of more value to your society. And that's a worthy cause to work towards. So treat yourself with love & care. More you love & care for yourself, more would be your capacity to extend that love & care to others. And that will make you a valuable member of society.
Changing our existing habits or creating new ones can seem challenging at first but with the right mindset & support it is not only doable but also enjoyable.
The big question is whether you have realized this need to change & be better and are willing to do what it takes to rise and shine ✨